Game-register.



Nq. 714,840.. Y l Patented nec. 2, |902.

E. J. WELLS &. G. B. WOOD.

GAME REGISTER.

I Applicntian led Feb. 5,' 1901.)

(No Model.)

n4: Noms Pcrzns co.. Prgcro'umo'., wnsumsou, n. c.

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ELMER J. WELLS AND GID-EON B. WOOD, OF NASHUA, OWA.

GAM E-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,840, dated December 2, 1902. Application flied February 5, 1901. serial No. 46,134.. (No man.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER J. WELLS and GIDEON B. WOOD, citizens of the United States, residing at Nashua, in the county of Chickasaw and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Game-Register, of which the followingl is a specification.

This invention relates to registers, and is designed to provide an improved device of this character which is especially adapted for use in connection with the game of pool or similar games in which a plurality of balls 0r movable objects are set up or grouped by an inclosing frame at the beginning of each game. It is furthermore designed to provide such a frame with a registering device to register each time the balls are set up and to plainly indicate the number of games played. Moreover, it has for its object to provide for automatically actuating the register by the operation of setting up the balls and to lock the same when a predetermined number of games have been played, there being means for preventing the setting up of the balls when the register is locked, so that the frame cannot be again used until the register has been reset by an attendant iu charge of the game-table.

With these and other objects in View the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawiugs,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an ordinary triangular frame employed in connection with a pool-table for setting up the balls and provided with the present game-register. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail elevation of the register with the faceplate or casing removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 4. 4 of Fig. 3.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

To adequately illustrate the application and operation of the present invention, there has been illustrated in the drawings a trianguiar frame l, such as commonly employed in connection with a pool-table for setting up or bunching the balls at the beginning of each game.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a tongue 2, mounted upon the inner face of one side of the frame and formed by means of a metallic spring-plate having one end iixedly secured to the frame, as at 3,'and its opposite end portion bent or inclined outwardly from the frame, so that it may be forced backwardly against the adjacent side of the frame by the balls when the latter are being set up and for the purpose of actuating the register by the backward movement of the tongue. It will of course be understood that the tongue is comparatively thin, so as not to interfere with the proper setting up of the balls, and is also designed to spring out wardly when the frame is removed from the balls, so as to be in position for again actuating the register when the balls are again set up for another game.

The registering mechanism comprises a slidable plate 4, mounted upon the outer face of the same side of the frame to which the tongue is attached and adapted to slide longitudinally in opposite directions thereon. A longitudinal slot 5 extends throughout the intermediate portion of the plate and is for the reception of a guideblock 6, which is connected to the frame by suitable fastenings 7 and has opposite longitudinal ianges 8, that overlap the outer side of the plate, and thereby slidably hold the latter to the frame. The upper edge ot' the plate is provided with a longitudinal series of ratchet-teeth 9, and a longitudinal series of numbers l0 is provided upon the lower portion of the outer face of the slidable plate and progressing regularly from Zero at the right-hand end to any predetermined number at the opposite end of the series.

For adjustably holding the slidable register-plate against accidental movement there is provided a ratchet device llin the form of a spring-dog arranged in operative relation with respect to the ratchet-teeth of the slide. As shown in the drawings, this dog is formed from a single length of spring-wire having IOO one end bent into a catch-head for engagement with the ratchet-teeth and its opposite end bent into alateral spur l2, which is driven into the frame, there being an intermediate loop or eye 13 for the reception of a fastening 14, set into the frame.

In order that the slidable number-plate may be actuated to slide longitudinally by the inward movement of the tongue 2, the latter is provided with a transverse inger 15, which works through a slot or opening 1G, formed in the adjacent side of the frame, so that the inger may engage the ratchet-teeth of the slide, and thereby force the latter longitudinally one step at a time. The inner actuating edge of the finger is disposed at an angle to the teeth of the plate, so that in traveling across each tooth the latter is forced to yield to the finger, whereby the slide is moved. Moreover, the finger is vertically elastical, so as to yield to the upward inclination of each tooth as the slide moves forwardly and also to snap downwardly after clearing the tooth when sprung outwardly from engagement therewith, in order that the outer end of the finger may be in position to engage the lowermost portion of the next tooth. At the outer end of' the finger there is provided a hook 18, disposed at the front or outer edge thereof and designed to engage a vertical stop-piu 19, extending across the slot or opening in the frame, whereby the tongue is prevented from springing too far away from the side of the frame.

For the protection of the movable parts of the register there is provided a casing or face-plate 20, secured to the outer side of the frame by means of suitable fastenings, so as to inclose or house the slide and the ratchet device, there being an intermediate lateral extension of the casing, as indicated at 21, for the reception ot' the finger 15 when it moves inwardly across the plate and projects outwardly beyond the same. An opening 22 is also formed in the casing so as to expose a single number on the slidable plate, thereby to indicate how many games have been played.

To reset the slide after it has been moved to its limit in one direction, there is provided a suitable key 23, which is designed to be in the possession of the attendant in charge of the game-table and also adapted to be iuserted through a keyhole-slot 24 and into engagement with a key-post 25, projected outwardly from the frame and located below the movable portion of the ratchet-dog, so that by turning the key into engagement with the dog the latter may be lifted out of engagement with the teeth of the slidable plate, whereby the latter is freed and may be dropped back to its original position by bringing the frame into a vertical position.

As hereinbefore indicated, it is designed to lock the register at the completion of a predetermined number of games, and to carry out this purpose the ratchet-teeth terminate short ofl what will be termed the "rear end of the slide, so as to form an upstanding stopshoulder 26, (shown in Fig. 2,) against which the outer end of the finger 15 will strike without any effect to move the plate. Vhen the finger is in engagement with this locking'- shoulder, the tongue 2 will be disposed sub stantially as in Figs. 1 and 2 or projected into the interior of the frame, whereby it will be impossible to properly set up the balls, as the tongue, which is now rigid, will interfere therewith.

For convenience in manually manipulating the register-actuating tongue or member 2, should it become necessary, there is provided a suitable finger-piece 27, rising from the upper edge of the tongue and adjacent to its free end.

It will of course be understood that the numbers on the slide correspond to the ratchet-teeth, so that as the plate is fed one step the next succeeding number will be brought opposite the opening in the casing, so as to be displayed therethrough.

Although a triangular frame has been shown, it is obvious that the register may be applied to any form of frame, according to the game. Moreover, the device may be applied to any side of the frame and to any part of the side; but it is preferred to locate the same as close as possible to one corner of the frame, such location being governed by the form of the frame-i. e., whether or not the corners of the frame are provided with the rounded or concaved filling-blocks, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that the part 2 forms a yieldable obstructing member for normally obstructing the capacity of the frame and is constructed to actuate the register mechanism by a movement from its obstructing position, also that the part 15 is projected externally of the frame during the register-actuating movement of the obstructing member, and the casing 21 houses the external path of the projected part, so as to prevent access thereto to obstruct the registeroperating movement of the obstructing member.

What is claimed isl. A frame for setting up the movable playing devices of a game having a game-register provided with means for locking the register at a predetermined number of games, and having a releasing device, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a pool assembling guard or frame, the obstructing member hinged thereto, and a case inclosing the oscillating end of such member throughout so much of its path as extends beyond the frame, whereby access to such end to prevent normal action of the member is prevented, substantially as described.

3. A frame for setting up the movable playing devices of a game having a register comprising a numbered slide having ratchet- IOO IIO

IIS

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teeth, and a locking-shoulder, and a slide-operating device mounted` upon the inner side of the frame for engagement With the playing devices when being set up, and having a lateral projection cooperating with the ratchetteeth to feed the slide with a step-by-step movement,the locking-shoulder being located at one end of the series of ratchet-teeth and constructed for engagement by the lateral projection to lock the same, substantially as described.

4. A frame for setting up the removable playing devices of a game having a game-register comprising a numbered slide, a yieldable slide -operating device mounted upon the inner side of the frame for engagement with the playing devices when being set up and constructed for operative engagement With the slide, and a locking-shoulder carried by the slide and disposed in locked engagement with the slide-operating device at the nal limit of the slide, Vsubstantially as described.

5. A frame for setting up the movable playing devices of a game having a registering mechanism, and ayieldable obstructing member in operative relation to the registering mechanism and having a part normally lying within the frame to obstruct the capacity thereof, and a part projected externally of the frame during the register-operating movement of the obstructing member, and means for housing the external path of the projected part, to prevent access thereto to obstruct the register-operatin g movement of the obstructing member, substantially as described.

6. A frame for setting up movable playing devices of a game, having a register provided With means for lockingit at a predetermined number of games, substantially as described.

7. A frame for setting up the movable playing devices of a game having a register having an actuating device extending normally into the space inclosed by the frame, said register being also provided With means for locking the register at a predetermined number of games and for holding the said actuating device in an extended position to prevent the tended position at a predetermined numberVK of games, substantially as described.

9. A frame for setting up the movable playing devices of a game having a register, an actuating device therefor normally obstructing a portion of the space Within the frame and arranged to project beyond the latter, and a casing receiving the projecting portion of the said device and forming a shield for the same, substantially as described.

1 O. A frame for setting up the movable playing devices of a game, having a register, an actuating device therefor normally projecting into the space Within the frame to obstruct the use of the same and adapted to be engaged and forced outward by the playing devices and projecting beyond the frame when forced outward, and a guard or shield forming a cover for the outwardly-projecting portion of the actuating device to prevent access thereto, substantially as described.

ll. A frame for setting up movable playing devices of a game having a register, an actuating device therefor normally projecting into the frame to obstruct the use of the same and adapted to be projected outward beyond the frame, a casing forming a guard or shield and adapted to receive the outwardly-projecting portion of the actuating device, and means carried by the register for locking the actuating device in its normal position at a predetermined number of games, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

ELMER J/WELLS. GIDEON B. WOOD. Witnesses:

A. E. DYE, I-I. M. WALLEsER. 

